Seatbelt retractor with adjustable context-based damper for a vehicle
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsPaul W. Alexander, Sean Taylor Coughlin, Senthil Karuppaswamy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A seatbelt retractor includes a housing holding fixed opposing first and second races, and a spool defining an axis of rotation and rotatably mounted on and between the first and second races. The spool is attached to a seatbelt having a web arranged to be wound around the spool and unwound from the spool. A damper is connected to the spool and extending axially relative to the axis. A body with a chamber holds a rheological fluid. The damper is arranged to axially and movably extend into the rheological fluid to effect motion of the web. An activation mechanism applies energy to the rheological fluid to change a viscosity of the rheological fluid.
Claims20
A seatbelt retractor, comprising:
- a housing holding fixed opposing first and second races;
- a spool defining an axis of rotation and rotatably mounted on and between the first and second races, wherein the spool is attached to a seatbelt having a web arranged to be wound around the spool and unwound from the spool;
- a damper connected to the spool and extending axially relative to the axis;
- a body with a chamber holding a rheological fluid, wherein the damper is arranged to axially and movably extend into the rheological fluid to effect motion of the web;
- and
- an activation mechanism that applies energy to the rheological fluid to change a viscosity of the rheological fluid.
A seatbelt system, comprising:
- a seatbelt having a web extending over at least one seat of a vehicle and having a web end;
- and
- a seatbelt retractor connected to the web end, wherein the seatbelt retractor comprises:
- a housing holding fixed opposing first and second races;
- a spool defining an axis of rotation and rotatably mounted on and between the first and second races, wherein the spool is attached to a seatbelt having a web arranged to be wound around the spool and unwound from the spool;
- a damper connected to the spool and extending axially relative to the axis;
- a body with a chamber holding a rheological fluid, wherein the damper is arranged to axially and movably extend into the rheological fluid to effect motion of the web;
- and
- an activation mechanism that applies energy to the rheological fluid to change a viscosity of the rheological fluid while the web is being extended from the seatbelt retractor.
A vehicle, comprising:
- at least one seat;
- a seatbelt at each seat front;
- and
- a seatbelt retractor at each seatbelt, wherein the seatbelt retractor comprising:
- opposing first and second races,
- a spool defining an axis of rotation and rotatably mounted on and between the first and second races, wherein the spool is attached to a seatbelt web arranged to wind the seatbelt web around the spool,
- a damping portion connected to the spool and extending axially relative to the axis,
- a body with a chamber holding a rheological fluid, wherein the damping portion extends into the rheological fluid, and
- an activation mechanism that applies energy to the rheological fluid to change a viscosity of the rheological fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.